Resources for Mappers
Mapping Software
OCAD
The latest release of OCAD is available from the OCAD website.
OCAD 6 is available from the OCAD website as a freeware version but note that it is not compatible with Windows 7 or later.
Open Orienteering Mapper
The latest release of the open-source Open Orienteering Mapper is available from the Open Orienteering Website. This software runs on Android, Linux, macOS and Windows.
ISOM 2017-2
In April 2019, IOF Council approved the publication of ISOM 2017-2.
Mappers may find the ISOM 2017 Symbol Transition guide useful when updating maps drawn to previous versions of ISOM. The ISOM 2017 changes document provides some background and the reasoning behind the changes made in ISOM 2017. Some of the changes referred to in this document have now been superseded by revisions in ISOM 2017-2.
Please direct any specific issues (or resources you would like to share) to mapchair@britishorienteering.org.uk.
Significant contributions by Bruce Bryant, David Olivant and Erik Peckett to the introduction of ISOM 2017 to British Orienteering are acknowledged.
ISSprOM 2019-2
In April 2019, the IOF map commission replaced the sprint map specification ISSOM 2007 with ISSprOM 2019. The changes from ISSOM to ISSprOM are described here. In Jan 2022 ISSprOM was revised to ISSprOM 2019-2. The new spec is here.
IOF Guidance documents “Best Practices for sprint mapping May 2025” and “Guidance for complex urban structures” can be found via this link.
NOTE: The last item listed on page 5 of the Best Practices for sprint mapping document under the heading “Selective generalisation” states that “only big houses, big water features and railways are drawn inside private areas (areas that shall not be entered).
The aim of the clause is to generalise the map and only show significant features that can be seen from outside the area-not-to-be-entered and which offer navigational value to competitors running at speed. For clarity, maps would normally include generalised residential houses but not out-buildings, sheds etc that offer little, if any, value for navigation when viewed from outside the area-not-to-be-entered.
This interpretation has been endorsed by the Chair of the IOF Map Commission.
British Orienteering Symbol Sets
ISOM 2017-2 & ISSprOM 2019-2 Revision 6
The IOF released Revision 6 of ISOM 2017-2 and ISSprOM 2019-2 dated Jan 2024. The links below will take you to a document that provides a summary of the changes and to updated versions of BOF symbol sets for ISOM and ISSprOM, which should now be used for new and updated maps.
These ISOM 2017-2 and ISSprOM 2019-2 symbol sets, include course setting symbols, OS and EA logos and are provided in OCAD 11 to 2018 and Open Orienteering Mapper file formats. These latest symbol sets are primarily for drawing new maps. The symbol sets may be used to convert an existing map to use the new symbols but maps will need to be checked carefully after conversion. A useful method is to save a copy of the old map file and open it as a background map in the converted file.
School Orienteering Maps
Symbol sets for School Orienteering Maps are not included in revision 6 of BOF symbol sets. School maps should use one of the 2 school symbol sets from the Jan 2022 files below:
• BOF Symbol Set for School Orienteering Maps 2019 2000_120
• BOF Symbol Set for School Orienteering Maps 2019 1000_160
Deprecated British Orienteering Symbols sets (Jan 2022)
NB Click on the links above and click download
The OOM school symbol sets need to be extracted and copied into the correct scale folders within the OOM Symbol Sets folder. Folders for 1000 and 2000 will need to be created.
OS and Environment Agency Lidar copyright
A zip file of symbols for OS and Environment Agency Lidar copyright for 2023 to 2025 is available here. The zip contains files for OCAD versions 9 to 2020 and Open Orienteering Mapper.
Guidance Documents for updating map symbols
Please note: The content relating to ISOM (2000) in these guidance documents has been superseded by the publication of ISOM 2017-2 and ISSprOM. The principles of conversion may remain useful for later software versions.
OCAD Helpline
British Orienteering Map Group has set up an OCAD Help Line. This is organised initially by Bruce Bryant of Octavian Droobers who can be contacted by email. If he is unable to answer your question then he will refer it to others in the Map Group.
British Orienteering Map Layout template for Championship Events
Use the template provided below (zipped OCAD 11 file) to meet the requirements for a standard layout for Championship event maps as set out in British Orienteering Rules, Appendix D - Mapping.
The font used for the Map Layout Template 'Mulish' can be downloaded here.
British Orienteering Layout Template for Championship events
Ordnance Survey
From 2010 a new contract with the Ordnance Survey (OS) has been imposed on British Orienteering and there are several consequences resulting.
Printed Maps
Firstly, they are claiming their copyright on virtually all orienteering maps. Obviously, maps drawn directly from OS material are included but also other maps based on photogrammetric plots (set up using spot heights) and even those with national grid references are covered under the heading “derived data”.
This means that all these maps should include the statement “© Crown Copyright (year) 100015287.” For example © Crown Copyright 2020 100015287.”
Website Maps
The size limit of maps that clubs may include on their website must not be greater than 200 sq. cms of paper at the original scale. The image on the internet cannot be capable of being edited or customised in any way, neither must it disclose any addressable coordinates. There is also an annual reproduction charge for each image displayed of £4.75 payable to Ordnance Survey through British Orienteering.
The map extract should include the wording “© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. 100015287. " and the website should state “This website contains mapping data licenced from the Ordnance Survey with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office © Crown Copyright 2020. All rights reserved. Licence Number 100015287”
Maps used with Routegadget are covered as they are sent to the Routegadget website and as they are accessed from there they are covered by the Routegadget OS licence.
POC Maps
Some clubs wish to include maps of permanent courses for downloading. The option given to British Orienteering is that this is not covered by their agreement and clubs would be required to take out their own licence for each map at considerable expense. A preferable alternative would be for the maps to be placed on the British Orienteering website using the POC management system with links provided from the controlling club site.
School Maps
For school maps produced by members of British Orienteering, the maps should include an event or activity number. This will provide the mapper with insurance for public liability during the survey. However, if the map is not to be used for a British Orienteering registered event, the OS copyright agreement for the map should be provided by the local authority as it will not be covered by the British Orienteering contract. Mappers who produce orienteering maps of schools and other educational establishments should be aware that the Ordnance Survey has changed their licence arrangements following the introduction of schools opting out of Local Education Authority (LEA) control and that this affects the production of orienteering maps for academies and private schools. Further information and guidance can be found here
Cartographic Software
- OCAD – Popular cartographic software for the production of Orienteering and other maps.
- Open Orienteering Mapper – Open-source cartographic software. Available for Android, Linux, macOS and Windows operating systems.
- Condes – Course planning software.
- Purple Pen – Open-source course planning software
- List of software for orienteering (including mapping)
International Orienteering Federation
The website for the International Orienteering Federation Map Commission including links to mapping specifications for other orienteering disciplines, Control Descriptions etc.
Groups and Organisations for Mappers
- British Cartographic Society – The British Cartographic Society, promoting the art and science of mapmaking in the UK.
- The Society of Cartographers
Calculator
Magnetic Variation Calculators
- National Grid magnetic variation angle calculator – The British Geological Survey web page calculates the angle between grid north and magnetic north at a given location.
OCAD AND GPS Websites regarding using GPS with Ocad
UK Online Mapping and Aerial Photography
- The Ordnance Survey
- Ordnance Survey "Get A Map" Service
- OpenOrienteeringMap (Street-O map creation)
- UK Street Map Site
- Bing Maps (Previously Multimap)
- Map Quest
- Get Mapping
- Nearby
Printing of Maps
IOF Printer Test Resources for download:
- Printing Orienteering Maps with a 4-Colour (CMYK) printing process – A useful guide by Pat Dunlavey of the United States.
Mapping Schools
When mapping school grounds, you may wish to refer to the School Mapping Specifications and the School symbols sets contained in the zip files linked above.
Support and Guidance Documents
Utilising Environment Agency Lidar Data
Creating Base Map Templates in OOM from LiDAR and other sources (Updated August 2024)
The following information and resources may be of use to you: